UPDATE: Re jobs: "We said we saw job reductions of 13,000 in 2008 and 13,000 in 2009 in our traditional landline business, and we anticipate a similar number of job reductions in 2010," Verizon spokesman Bob Varettoni told me. "These are across-the-board, not specific to any geographic area, and related to our traditional landline business. There were approximately 117,000 employees in our Wireline business segment as of the end of 2009," and another 106,000 in Verizon Wireless and other units.

EARLIER: Verizon's FiOS video service had its worst quarter since early 2007, adding just 153,000 customers, noted Deutsche Bank analyst Doug Michelson in a report to clients. "Verizon has been overspending to acquire FiOS customers," Michelson wrote. Verizon is charging phone-video-Internet customers $140/month, which "demonstrates the lack fo a price war.... Cable continues to gain share due to faster speeds than DSL."

He adds, "We believe the slowdown in FiOS video net adds is a positive for Pay TV stocks, as it demonstrates competition fears were overdone."